The Simple Features and Functions of a Geothermal Heat Pump

May 22, 2018

What just about everyone says they appreciate most about a geothermal heating and cooling system is that it has almost no moving parts. There’s just that much less that can break down– that much less requiring maintenance. And that by itself makes a huge difference in lowering the overall energy costs of Kearney homeowners who’ve gone geothermal.

That said, the system isn’t free of all moving parts. Most of them are found in its most conspicuous component, too: the geothermal heat pump.

This is the system’s powerplant. Its purpose is to transfer heat. And it transfers heat either from the ground into your house or from your house into the ground, depending on ambient temperatures. As such, it’s a furnace and an air conditioner combined in one discreet package.

The medium by which a heat pump transfers heat is either water or an antifreeze solution. This liquid courses through pipe loops installed underground and linked to the heat pump, which is kept above ground. During heating season the liquid draws heat from the ground, the heat pump draws the warm liquid up into refrigerant coils, and the heat is then is dispensed throughout a home by means of either a forced air or a hydronic system. During cooling season the process is reversed: the pump draws heat from your home and transfers it underground by way of those same buried loops. Oh, and somewhere along the way, lots of geothermal systems also supply domestic hot water.

The essential difference between a geothermal heat pump and a common furnace is that a heat pump doesn’t set fuel burning to generate heat. Instead it takes heat that’s already present and just moves it around. That naturally makes it a much more efficient heating and cooling system. Recognize this, too: underground temperatures almost always remain at around 50º F all year long. And that means? A geothermal heating and cooling system requires considerably less energy to cool your home than typical air conditioners.

Axmann Heating & Air Conditioning has provided Kearney geothermal heating and cooling solutions for many years. We proudly offer Kearney WaterFurnace geothermal systems and stand behind our quality work and products. Call us at Axmann Heating & Air Conditioning today. We are ready to bring you into the WaterFurnace Kearney geothermal family.